The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is ready to remove the 300-meter-long floating barrier that the China Coast Guard (CCG) has placed to prevent Filipino fishing boats from entering and doing fishing activities at the southeast portion of Bajo de Masinloc.
Interviewed during DZRH's Dos Por Dos, PCG Spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Jay Tarriela expressed readiness to remove the barrier once the national government has given its approval.
"If the national government would require the Coast Guard to remove the barrier with the concurrence of the Department of Foreign Affairs, then the Philippine Coast Guard will comply," he said.
Tarriela said that they cannot hastily remove the floating barriers without a go signal as this may cause a "diplomatic misstep" for the national government.
"Our intention is to document this, to show to the public, to tell the world that ito ang ginagawa nila sa Bajo de Masinloc. Now, if the national government, with the concurrence of the national government agencies, decides to take action sa barrier na ito, then the Philippine Coast Guard and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources would do anything possible," he said.
"Of course, with the support also of the Armed Forces of the Philippines," Tarriela added.
According to the PCG spox for WPS, the floating barriers is comprised of nets that are locked by anchor chain in between.
The incident has reached the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS), and discussion on the next steps is set to commence, Tarriela said.
"Kung ano man ang mapag-usapan at maging guidance ng Pangulo, ang Philippine Coast Guard ay gagawin ang kung ano man ang gagawin," he furthered.
Senate President Juan Miguel 'Migz' Zubiri has called on the PCG to "immediately cut and remove" what he regarded as "illegal" floating barrier at Bajo de Masinloc or also called as Scarborough Shoal.
